006. First Lights of Adaptation

Amelia heard the alarm, took a deep breath, and opened her eyes. The room was the same as the day before. The same armchair, the same window through which the first rays of sunlight filtered, the mirror, the bed... Everything was the same, but the confusion and disorientation she felt upon waking were overwhelming. The room felt too real to be a dream, yet the reality she faced seemed straight out of a nightmare.

She sat up in bed, letting the sheets slide off her body. The softness of the fabric against her skin reminded her of the difference in her new reality. The confusion lingered in her mind as she looked at the reflection in the mirror: a young, beautiful woman with hair tousled from sleep and eyes still sleepy.

"It wasn't a dream," Amelia thought, feeling a knot in her stomach. Everything that had happened the day before had been real. She had woken up in a body she didn't recognize as her own, had an appointment with a psychologist who made her reflect on her situation, and explored her new body in ways she could never have imagined.

She recalled the conversation with Lucia in the study room, the words of encouragement and the advice she had given her. She also remembered the words of the psychologist, Lourdes, who had told her that this was an opportunity to redeem herself and find a new way of living. The idea of redemption through prostitution was still contradictory and difficult to accept, but there was a spark of hope in her words, a hope that Amelia didn't want to let go of.

She got out of bed and walked to the mirror, carefully observing her reflection. She still couldn't get used to the image she saw. Her body, her face—everything was new and strange. But she couldn't deny the reality of her situation. She had to find a way to survive and adapt, to learn how to live in this new skin.

"This won't defeat me," she said quietly to herself. She needed to stay strong, find a way to face each day with determination. She remembered Lucia's advice about exploring herself and finding her most sensitive spots. She had discovered something new about her body the previous night, something she couldn't ignore. The mix of pleasure and curiosity had surprised her, and although she still felt sadness and confusion, she also felt that there was a small part of her accepting her new reality.

Amelia took a deep breath and stepped away from the mirror. She walked to the window and pulled back the curtains, letting the sunlight flood the room. The view outside was peaceful, a sight of mountains that reminded her that the world kept turning despite the drastic changes in her life.

"One day at a time," Amelia thought, returning to the bed to pick up the robe she had left there the night before. She put it on and decided she needed to go to the communal gym to freshen up. As she gathered her things, she reflected on what she needed to do next. She had to keep learning, keep adapting, and find a way to face her situation with as much dignity as possible.

She left the room and walked down the hallway toward the gym. Each step echoed in the silence, her thoughts filled with a mixture of hope and determination. There was much to learn and much to do, and she wasn't going to let fear paralyze her.

Amelia arrived at the gym, a spacious room with exercise equipment distributed evenly and a separate area for showers and dressing rooms. The gym was softly lit, and tranquil music played in the background, creating a relaxing atmosphere. She looked around and noticed several girls already there, some using the exercise machines and others freshening up in the showers.

She headed to the shower area, feeling the warmth of the steam in the air as she approached. Upon entering, she saw a young woman with blonde hair tied in a ponytail washing her hair under one of the showers. Amelia chose a nearby shower, trying not to draw attention. She began to freshen up, letting the warm water relax her tense muscles and clear her thoughts.

As she soaped up her body, the blonde turned toward her with a friendly smile.

"Hi, I'm Clara," she said, rinsing her hair. "I saw you in the study room yesterday, but we didn't get a chance to talk."

Amelia returned the smile, grateful for Clara's kindness.

"Hi, Clara. I'm Amelia. Yes, yesterday was my first day here. All of this is… pretty overwhelming," she replied, trying to keep the conversation light despite her internal confusion.

Clara nodded, showing understanding.

"I know. We've all been through that. At first, it's hard, but little by little, you get used to it. How are you feeling today?" Clara asked while applying conditioner to her hair.

Amelia sighed, letting the hot water fall over her shoulders.

"Confused, scared, trying to understand all of this. I had a session with the psychologist yesterday, and… I'm not sure how to feel about it," she admitted, seeking advice in Clara's eyes.

Clara smiled sympathetically.

"Lourdes is very good at what she does. She can be a bit intimidating at first, but she really helps. I had many doubts when I got here. I felt lost and hopeless. But Lourdes helped me find a way to face all of this and see things from a different perspective."

Amelia nodded slowly, finding some comfort in Clara's words.

"That's what Lucia told me too. That Lourdes really helps. I guess I just need to give it time," Amelia said, starting to rinse off the soap.

"Exactly. We all need time to adjust. And you're not alone in this, Amelia. We're all in this together. If you need to talk or just want some company, I'm here," Clara said with an encouraging smile.

Amelia appreciated the offer with a smile.

"Thank you, Clara. That means a lot to me," she replied, feeling a bit of relief.

They finished their showers and headed to the dressing rooms. Amelia felt a little lighter after the conversation. Clara seemed friendly and understanding, which gave her some hope that she might find support among other girls besides Lucia.

As Amelia dried off and got dressed, she noticed that her clothes from the previous day were dirty and wrinkled. She wasn't sure what to do with them. She looked at Clara, who was still drying her hair, and decided to ask.

"Clara, what do we do with dirty clothes?" she asked, trying to sound casual.

"When you get to your room, just leave them on the armchair. Someone will pick them up and, after washing them, put them back in your drawers," Clara replied, finishing drying her hair and starting to get dressed.

Amelia nodded, grateful for the information.

"That's good to know. Thanks, Clara," she said as she folded her dirty clothes and put them in her bag to take back to her room.

Clara smiled back.

"No problem, Amelia. They take good care of us here, as much as they can. If you have more questions, feel free to ask me."

Amelia felt a bit more at ease knowing she didn't have to worry about dirty clothes. It was a small relief amid all the confusion and chaos of her new life. She finished getting dressed, feeling a little more confident knowing there was someone like Clara willing to help her.

"Thanks again, Clara. I really appreciate your help," Amelia said, adjusting her clothes and getting ready to leave the dressing room.

"You're welcome, Amelia. Remember, we're all in this together," Clara winked before leaving the dressing room.

Amelia took a deep breath and followed Clara out of the gym, feeling a bit more hopeful and determined to face the day ahead. When she reached her room, she left her dirty clothes on the armchair, as Clara had instructed. Someone would take care of collecting them and returning them clean to her drawer.

Amelia glanced at the alarm clock and noticed the time. There were only four minutes left until breakfast. Almost running, she left the room. She didn't want to miss breakfast. She saw the guards slightly ahead of her and, making an effort not to twist an ankle, sped up just enough to slip ahead of them into the study room.

The guards smiled as they saw her running. They knew the urgency of the schedule for meal times, but they wouldn't leave anyone without food for just a few minutes. Amelia rushed to her seat and looked around the room. Lucia was sitting next to her studying, but she didn't see Clara, who had entered with breakfast already on the tables. Clara smiled at her before sitting in her own seat, the one right in front of Amelia.

Lucia watched the exchange curiously. Amelia was quick at making friends; maybe she would do well in finding a stable lover. It had taken Lucia two weeks to start talking to the others. She had been frustrated with her changed body and fate.

"You've met Clara. I'm glad. How did it go with Lourdes?" Lucia asked just before taking a sip from her coffee cup.

Amelia looked at the cup of coffee with envy. They had given her a cup of cocoa, and she hated chocolate.

"Well, I don't know what to tell you. It felt strange; I had never been with a psychologist. She doesn't seem like a bad person, but her job is ultimately to make us go along with the organization. The other curious thing was her insistence on studying Suryavanti."

Clara turned around with interest.

"Suryavanti? What's Suryavanti?"

"An Asian country," Amelia replied. "It's a group of five or six islands. The government is a dictatorship or an absolute monarchy with a stratified society and a strong sense of honor."

Clara looked at her for a moment.

"Well, you should study hard. Did she give you a timeline? Doesn't matter if she didn't; hurry up."

"Why the rush?" Amelia asked, watching Clara, who had turned around to put a forkful of food in her mouth.

Seeing that Clara wouldn't speak until she swallowed her food, Lucia was the one to answer.

"Like I told you yesterday, it's likely you already have a first client with a good chance of being a good match for you. Mine didn't work out, but generally, they do."

"Yeah, they usually turn out well. I've been with an Italian for a month now. I've made a lot of progress, and I even spent a weekend in Sicily with him," Clara's eyes seemed to light up as she spoke about the Italian.

At that moment, another girl who had been listening joined the conversation. She was tall, with blonde hair and bright green eyes. She sat next to them and smiled.

"Hi, I'm Marta. I couldn't help but overhear. I was also lucky with my first client. He's a German businessman, and we're very close to moving in together. It's been a challenge, but it's been worth it. He's treated me with a lot of respect and has given me everything I need."

Amelia looked at Marta with interest.

"How did you manage that?"

Marta shrugged with a smile.

"It was a matter of patience and adaptation. At first, it was difficult, but little by little, I earned his trust. Now he trusts me and values me. I think that's the most important thing: finding a way to connect with them on a personal level, not just physically."

Amelia felt a mixture of hope and apprehension. The possibility of finding someone who could improve her situation gave her some hope, but the reality of her situation remained overwhelming.

"Thanks for sharing that, Marta," Amelia said, feeling that perhaps there was light at the end of the tunnel.

Lucia smiled, watching how quickly Amelia was fitting in.

"The important thing is not to lose hope, Amelia. We all have our stories and hopes here. You're not alone in this."

Amelia nodded, feeling a new determination grow within her. She knew the path would be difficult, but she was willing to do whatever it took to survive and perhaps find a way to thrive in her new reality.

As they continued eating breakfast, Amelia couldn't help but feel sad for Lucia. Unlike Clara and Marta, who seemed to have found good clients, Lucia had experienced two disastrous situations. The prospect of having the same bad luck as Lucia filled her with fear. She couldn't help but wonder if her fate would be similar.

Lucia noticed Amelia's worried expression and patted her arm.

"Don't worry, Amelia. Every experience is different. Just because my first encounters weren't good doesn't mean the same will happen to you. Keep an open mind and be yourself. Sometimes, it's just a matter of finding the right person."

Amelia tried to smile, but the worry didn't completely disappear. She knew she had to prepare as best she could for any situation and hope for the best, but the fear of the unknown was hard to ignore.

As the girls finished their breakfast, Amelia decided she would dedicate the day to studying everything she could about Suryavanti. If it could give her an advantage and ensure a better future, she wouldn't waste any time doing it.

Still, Amelia wondered what this client would be like. Would he be shorter? Asians were usually short, and she was quite tall. Would he be a good person? Why would a good person resort to paying for a prostitute? All these thoughts crowded her mind as she finished her breakfast, making it difficult to focus on the lesson on the PC.